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American political

Rare 19th-century American political items in Heritage Auctions’ Dec. 3 sale

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Large cast-iron stove with a high-relief portrait of 1848 Democratic presidential hopeful Lewis Cass of Michigan on the door. Heritage Auctions image
Large cast-iron stove with a high-relief portrait of 1848 Democratic presidential hopeful Lewis Cass of Michigan on the door. Heritage Auctions image

 

DALLAS – A single-owner collection of historic and rare political and presidential memorabilia is expected to exceed $700,000 when Heritage Auctions presents the Scott W. Dolson Catalog on Dec. 3. The life-long collection consists of over 500 selected items representing virtually every president and presidential candidate from George Washington through Theodore Roosevelt. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

“Scott collected with remarkable sophistication and discipline,” said Tom Slater, Heritage director of Americana Auctions. “He gravitated toward the unusual or exceptional in each category he pursued, with a special emphasis on condition.”

The Dolson offerings range from glass and china and snuff boxes to lapel studs and pinback badges.

Perhaps the most novel item in the collection is a large cast-iron stove (above) with a high-relief portrait of 1848 Democratic presidential hopeful Lewis Cass on the door (opening bid $7,500). It appears that these were not exactly big sellers, as only two or possibly three examples are known, along with a single stove depicting his opponent Zachary Taylor, which resides in the Smithsonian’s collection.

A premier example of American political glass and china in this collection is a large ceramic pitcher with four portraits of William Henry Harrison, which dates to the 1840 presidential campaign. This rare item (below) was made by the American Pottery Co. of Jersey City, N.J.

 

William Henry 1840 campaign pitcher, nearly 11 1/2 inches high. Heritage Auctions image
William Henry 1840 campaign pitcher, nearly 11 1/2 inches high. Heritage Auctions image

 

“There are so many important, in many cases unique, objects that picking out highlights is all but impossible,” Slater said. “Here are five stand-out items which illustrate the diversity and quality of the Dolson Collection:”

1. Massive Liverpool cream ware punch bowl depicting President John Adams (lot 43009), minimum (opening bid $7,500).

2. Another example of Liverpool pottery made for the American market, featuring a rare standing portrait of Thomas Jefferson (lot opening bid $5,000).

3. An iconic 1860 Abraham Lincoln campaign ambrotype by George Clark, one of the earliest photographic political items (opening bid $10,000).

4. Another possibly unique item: a cut, etched, and frosted glass parade lantern for 1840 Whig standard bearer William Henry Harrison (opening bid $7,500).

5. Bold red, white, and blue 1868 campaign banner for Ulysses S. Grant and his running mate, Schuyler Colfax (below; opening bid $3,000).

 

1868 campaign banner for Ulysses S. Grant and his running mate, Schuyler Colfax. Heritage Auctions image
1868 campaign banner for Ulysses S. Grant and his running mate, Schuyler Colfax. Heritage Auctions image

 

In addition to the Dec. 3 auction, hundreds of additional Dolson Collection items will appear in an internet-only auction in January.

 

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